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• I've
  I've

  contraction of I have.
• -ive
  -ive

  a suffix of adjectives (and nouns of adjectival origin) expressing tendency, disposition, function, connection, etc..

I've

¹ American  

[ahyv] / aɪv /

1. contraction of I have.

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-ive ² American  

1. a suffix of adjectives (and nouns of adjectival origin) expressing tendency, disposition, function, connection, etc..

   active; corrective; destructive; detective; passive; sportive.

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-ive ¹ British  

suffix

1. (forming adjectives) indicating a tendency, inclination, character, or quality

   divisive

   prohibitive

   festive

   massive

2. ( forming nouns of adjectival origin )

   detective

   expletive

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I've ² British  

/ aɪv /

contraction

1. I have

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Usage

See contraction.

Etymology

Origin of -ive

< Latin -īvus; in some words, representing French -ive, feminine of -if

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

I've -ive

"That's what I've been training and preparing towards."

From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026

But that’s how I’ve always been, and I’m a mechanical thinker.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 2026

"Obviously, there's a need to bring in change to give the government that new direction that I've called for. That's just the reality of politics," Burnham said.

From Barron's ● Jul. 26, 2026

"I deserve to be here, I've earned my place, and I'm going to get the degree I've earned."

From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026

Arlo looks at me like I’ve lost it, but I don’t care.

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold

What should be done with the terminations -able, -ible, -tion, -cial, -tive, -ive, and -sion?

From Division of Words Rules for the Division of Words at the Ends of Lines, with Remarks on Spelling, Syllabication and Pronunciation by Hamilton, Frederick W. (Frederick William)

In Shakespeare many adjectives, especially those ending in -ful, -less, -ble, and -ive, have both an active and a passive meaning.

From The New Hudson Shakespeare: Julius Cæsar by Black, Ebenezer Charlton